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Ask your local library to order Unelected.
Most NYT bestsellers get a quiet boost from institutional buyers and library systems. This one didn’t. It hit the list on reader demand through Passage Press. That makes library requests a high-leverage way to expand its reach beyond people who already follow the authors or buy directly.
Why it matters
Libraries buy multiple copies once a title is requested enough times.
It puts the book in front of people who wouldn’t otherwise see it.
It reduces the relative advantage of titles that arrive with pre-arranged institutional support.
Public libraries are still one of the few remaining open distribution channels that don’t require a platform algorithm or a retail buyer’s approval.
How to request it (takes 2–5 minutes)
Go to your library’s website (or the app) and search for “request a purchase,” “suggest a title,” or “recommend a book.” Most systems have a simple online form.
If you prefer in person, ask at the reference or circulation desk. They handle these daily.
Give them:
Title: Unelected: How You Paid a Sinister Elite to Take Over America
Authors: Jennica Pounds & Joshua Lisec
Publisher: Passage Press
ISBN: 979-8-90116-062-6 (hardcover)
Add a short note if the form allows: “New York Times bestseller; high local interest.” That’s often enough.
Many libraries will order it if they get even a handful of requests. A few more from the same system strengthens the case.
If your library already has it, check it out. Circulation numbers matter too.
Do it once, then mention it to one or two other people. That’s the whole ask. – at Hayford, WA
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Good Morning,
You are cordially invited to join me for a daily scripture break.
James 5:16:
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
This verse offers some very plain instruction for individual spiritual warriors who must cultivate and befriend a circle of believers within your sphere of influence (where you work and live). This verse encourages us to have other believers in whom you can trust to share our challenges and pray for one another. As we studied in a previous post, we are asked to confess all of our sins to the Lord (not just most of our sin) in order to obtain forgiveness from God. Why is that important? When you are obedient to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” In the spiritual world, you have become a strong formidable spiritual warrior. You have exchanged the your “old nature” and assumed Jesus’ righteousness. And thus “the prayer of a righteous person is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE.” Just think of it - the righteousness of Jesus is the source of the power and effectiveness of our prayers. That’s why confessing just some of your sins is so detrimental because it impedes the power and effectiveness of your prayer. I can hear your questions - how is it possible Christians (flawed human beings) can assume the righteousness of our Lord and Savior? Let’s examine the Word of God.
In I Corinthians 1:30, it says, "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” Also II Corinthians 5:21 tells us, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
With this incredible gift of Jesus’ righteousness we are now equipped as spiritual warriors to go and fulfill our spiritual calling. Where do we start?
Today we will explore praying for your community and nation. We often hear in our conversations that we should pray for our local, state, and national governments. How do we do that? Here are some suggestions to begin your daily commitment to serve the Kingdom of God as a spiritual warrior. I strongly urge you to take up this mantle; the survival of our nation is on line.
I’d like to present 6 concrete actions we can do to begin our journey.
1. Pray the scriptures to God. Sometimes you don’t know the exact words you should use to pray about a specific circumstance. If you can find a scripture that addresses your situation then pray that scripture back to the Lord; that’s a great option. He certainly honors His own Word. Here are a few examples on how to pray on behalf of our nation; fill in your specific petitions.
a. Daniel 9:17-19 - “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For Your sake, Lord, look with favor on Your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
b. Psalm 33:6-12 - "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit how to specifically pray - create a list of specific petitions (ie. the ills of our nation.)
a. Romans 8:26 - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
b. Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
3. Offer prayers to frequently seek forgiveness on behalf of the nation and ask God for righteous leaders.
a. Proverbs 11:14 - “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers."
b. Proverbs 14:34 - “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people."
c. II Chronicles 7:14 - “if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Some may wonder, how can I ask for forgiveness for something I didn’t do? It is called intercessory prayer. God isn’t asking non-believers or people from other faiths to pray; He asked His people (to turn from sin). What prevents us from asking the Holy Spirit reveal to non-believers their error as well?
d. Daniel 9:4-10 - "I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, LORD, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.”
When I read this passage, the similarities with our nation were astounding. We are under judgment in America and Europe is burning. Why? Reread the passage. This is why we are praying, interceding for our nation because we know our nation has sinned against God.
4. As members of the Body of Christ we must speak truth, expose evil, identify the ills of our culture within your sphere of influence and pray.
a. II Timothy 2:1-2 - "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
b. Job 12:23-24 - "He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.”
This passage in Job, summarizes the consequences of disobedience and sin against God. Some will say we are under the new covenant. That’s true and we must avail ourselves to seek forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation. But people want to ignore that God is also just and there are consequences to unrepented sin and disobedience. (Romans 1:28)
5. Humbly offer prayers of thanksgiving to God for His Mercy and His Grace towards us in our local community and within all levels of government.
a. II John 1:3 - “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love."
b. Psalm 22:27-28 - "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations."
6. Do not allow evil people to twist and manipulate the Word of God for the evil purposes- call it out.
Romans 13:1 - "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Do not allow evil people to twist God’s Word. Any authority that requires you to violate your conscience and faith is NOT of God. In the coming days, our enemies will seek to utilize God’s Word for evil purposes. Let the Holy Spirit guide you; God will never ask us to sin or violate His Word.
To the world, Christians appear to be unintelligent, uneducated, misguided fools. The fact that we are completely dependent upon our God makes us appear “weak" to the world, but we know otherwise, having done all God asked of us; then the more we can trust God will hear our prayers. Do not listen to the messaging of the world. Please pray and begin your spiritual journey to help save our nation as a spiritual warrior of the Kingdom of God.
Have a blessed day.
Peace and be prepared.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Anthropic pre-IPO broker call was absolutely WILD. The party line was:
•We are or plan on imminently destroying: hyperscalers, every other lab, SpaceX, biotech, robot cos; for fun
•Chipmakers may survive at our pleasure
•$1tn ARR by 4Q28
•Fuck investors it’s capex time
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
🚨 URGENTE: Elon Musk ha sido OFICIALMENTE invitado a trasladar su sede de Tesla desde Texas al libre estado de FLORIDA
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
ساعت ۲ نصفهشب به وقت واشنگتن؛ یه دستور قضایی فوقمحرمانه میافته روی میز کلهگندههای اطلاعاتی FBI آمریکا:
«همین الان قفل امنیتی فایل صوتی شماره ۴۰۹ رو بشکنید!»
فایلی که سیستمهای ضدجاسوسی آمریکا وسط شنودِ مکالمات رمزگذاریشده یه جاسوس ردهبالای چینی شکارش کرده بودن. وقتی فیلترهای صوتی رو برداشتن و اسم طرفِ اون ور خط افتاد روی مانیتورهای اتاق عملیات FBI، رسماً نفسها تو سینه حبس شد و فرداش کل والاستریت رفت رو هوا: جنسن هوانگ، امپراتور دستنیافتنی #انویدیا! پشتپردهی پشمریزونترین رسوایی تاریخ سیلیکونولی و دود شدن ۳۳۰ میلیارد دلار تو چند ساعت چیه؟
بزنید بریم سراغ اصل ماجرا:
داستان از یه شکار اطلاعاتی تو جنوب شرق آسیا شروع شد؛ جایی که اصلاً نه کسی دنبال مچگیری از جنسن هوانگ بود و نه انویدیا هدف اصلی بازرسها. مامورهای ضدجاسوسی FBI و وزارت بازرگانی آمریکا ماهها بود داشتن چراغخاموش یه شبکه مافیایی و عجیبغریب رو رصد میکردن که تحریمهای سنگین تکنولوژی آمریکا رو مثل آب خوردن دور میزد. وسط این شبکه عنکبوتی، یه زن مرموز و کاربلد به اسم «هوانگ له» (معروف به آلیس هوانگ) نشسته بود؛ یه خبرنگار سابق تلویزیون و مدیر مالی زرنگ تو شانگهای که مارس ۲۰۲۳ یهو و بیسر و صدا، سهام یه شرکت بازیسازی ورشکسته و درپیت رو تو سنگاپور خرید و اسمش رو گذاشت «مگااسپید» (Megaspeed). (منبع: گزارش تحقیقی نیویورک تایمز و رویترز در خصوص شبکه قاچاق چیپ در سنگاپور)
سرویسهای اطلاعاتی آمریکا کل ارتباطات این خانم رو به عنوان یه هدف امنیتی درجه یک، ۲۴ ساعته زیر شنود داشتن. اما وسط همین شنودها، سیستمهای هوش مصنوعی ضدجاسوسی به یه مورد خیلی مشکوک برخوردن: ارتباط دائمی، خصوصی و خارج از پروتکل این زن با یه «شهروند به شدت ردهبالای آمریکایی»! طبق قانون آمریکا، هویت شهروندهای خودی تو شنودهای خارجی سانسور میشه، ولی وقتی پای امنیت ملی اومد وسط، قاضی فدرال دستور ویژه کشف هویت (Unmasking) رو صادر کرد. لحظهای که قفل فایل باز شد، سکوت مطلق اتاق عملیات FBI رو گرفت؛ مردی که اون سر خط داشت با مامور پکن پچپچ میکرد، کسی نبود جز جنسن هوانگ، قدرتمندترین مرد دنیای هوش مصنوعی و مدیرعامل انویدیا! (منبع: اسناد داخلی وزارت بازرگانی ایالات متحده و گزارشهای امنیتی واشنگتن پست)
با باز شدن پای هوانگ به این پرونده، تیم ویژه بازرسها افتادن دنبال ریشهیابی این رابطه ممنوعه و ردپاها مستقیم رسید به ژوئن ۲۰۲۴ و شبهای شلوغ نمایشگاه کامپیوتکس تو تایپه. وقتی آرشیوها رو زیر و رو کردن، تیکه گمشده پازل دراومد: دوربین یه شبکه تلویزیونی محلی (CTI تایوان)، جنسن هوانگ رو بدون اون کاپشن چرمی معروفش، با یه تیشرت مشکی ساده تو گوشه تاریک یه بار خصوصی و فوقلوکس شکار کرده بود؛ جایی که امپراتور تراشهها، لیوان ویسکی به دست، گرمِ خوشوبش و خلوت صمیمانه با آلیس هوانگ بود! (منبع آرشیوی: CTI Television و گزارش تصویری The Guardian)
اما گندِ اصلی نه تو اون بار تاریک، بلکه تو دفاتر مالی انویدیا بعد از اون شبِ کذایی تو تایپه دراومد! تو روزهایی که غولهای تکنولوژی آمریکا مثل مایکروسافت، گوگل و متا ماهها تو صف انتظار دریافت تراشههای هوش مصنوعی التماس میکردن، شرکت کاغذی و بینامونشانِ معشوقه هوانگ یکشبه شد شریک استراتژیک و اولویت اول انویدیا! شرکتی که سال قبلش فقط ۲۱ هزار دلار بیلان منفی و بدهی داشت، یهو ۲.۹ میلیارد دلار پول نقد از منابع کاملاً نامعلوم گرفت و درجا سفارش خرید ۴.۸ میلیارد دلار تجهیزات فوقپیشرفته و تحریمی انویدیا رو ثبت کرد! ماجرا وقتی به اوج کمدی و فاجعه رسید که خبرنگارهای خبرگزاری فرانسه (AFP) رفتن سراغ آدرس و تلفن ثبتشده این شرکت چندهزار میلیاردی؛ وقتی زنگ زدن، صاحب یه خونه مسکونی معمولی گوشی رو برداشت و با تعجب گفت اصلاً روحش هم از وجود همچین شرکتی خبر نداره! محمولههای استراتژیک به اسم سنگاپور فاکتور میشد، اما شبانه و مستقیم سر از آزمایشگاههای سری ارتش چین درمیآورد. (منبع: اسناد کمیسیون بورس آمریکا SEC Form 10-Q و گزارش خبرگزاری فرانسپرس AFP)
وقتی حلقه محاصره تنگتر شد و خبرنگارهای نیویورکتایمز و گاردین دستشون به اسناد محرمانه رسید، هوانگ فهمید دیگه راه فراری نیست و سونامی تو راهه. یکشنبه شب، تو یه حرکت عجیب و پیشدستانه، یه ایمیل داخلی شوکهکننده به کل کارمنداش زد و نوشت: «من به همسرم لوری خیانت کردم و هیچ بهونه و توجیهی هم ندارم.» میگن فرداش هم تو یه تماس تلفنی پر از التماس با دونالد ترامپ، قسم خورده که سرش کلاه رفته و اصلاً خبر نداشته معشوقهاش مهره اطلاعاتی و پرستوی (Honeytrap) پکن بوده! (منبع: بیانیه رسمی انویدیا، رویترز و گزارش تفصیلی The Guardian)
👇👇👇 ادامه..!
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
🇵🇱Poland’s Supreme Court has reinstated the president and vice-president of the Supreme Tribunal.
It annulled the order issued by the usurper Korwin-Piotrowska, whom the putschist Tusk had installed in that position.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
여섯번째 생존법.
재난이나 전시 상황에 도시를 탈출(Bug Out)하려던 사람들의 80%는 목적지에 도착하기도 전에 길 위에서 죽습니다.
영화 속 주인공들은 차를 타고 유유히 교외로 빠져나가 시골 은신처에 도착하지만, 현실의 피난길은 가장 처참한 약탈과 조난의 무덤입니다.
이번 사례는 우크라이나와 러시아를 참고했습니다.
문명이 붕괴하는 순간, 도시를 벗어나기 위해 반드시 알아야 할 5대 피난·탈출 생존 철칙입니다.
1. 재난 터지자마자 차를 몰고 고속도로로 나가지 마라
재난 사이렌이 울리는 순간, 수백만 명이 동시에 차를 끌고 나옵니다. 도심 주요 간선도로와 고속도로는 1시간 안에 '움직이지 않는 거대한 철창'으로 변합니다.
- 도로가 막히면 유턴도, 후진도 불가능합니다.
- 히터를 틀다 연료가 바닥나면, 영하의 도로 한가운데에 버려진 금속 관 속에 갇히는 꼴이 됩니다.
- 차량 탈출은 재난 경보 후 '단 1~2시간 이내'에 도시 외곽을 완전히 통과할 수 있을 때만 유효합니다. 그 타이밍을 놓쳤다면 차라리 튼튼한 오토바이, 산악자전거, 또는 도보가 10배 안전합니다.
2. 밀리터리 전술 배낭을 메는 순간 당신은 1순위 표적이 된다
카키색, 카모플라주 무늬의 몰리(MOLLE) 전술 배낭에 전투화를 신고 나서는 것은, 약탈자들에게 "내 가방에 비싼 생존 장비와 비상식량이 가득하다"고 광고하는 자살행위입니다.
- 극한의 혼란 속에서는 누구의 눈에도 띄지 않는 '회색 인간(Gray Man)'이 되어야 합니다.
- 낡고 평범한 학생용 백팩, 허름한 스포츠 가방, 때 묻은 비닐 쇼핑백에 장비를 나누어 담으세요.
- 겉모습은 누구보다 가난하고 절박해 보여야 약탈자의 표적에서 벗어납니다.
3. '시골 친척 집'이라는 막연한 탈출은 노숙자로 가는 지름길이다
미리 연료, 식량, 방어 수단을 완벽하게 비축해 둔 '검증된 베이스캠프'가 없다면 무작정 도시를 떠나지 마세요.
- 평소 연락도 없던 시골 친척이나 지인의 집은 당신의 피난처가 되어주지 않습니다. 그곳 사람들도 이미 자원 고갈과 침입자 공포로 극도로 예민해져 있습니다.
- 연고도 없는 시골로 향하는 것은 스스로 자원이 고갈된 채 길거리 노숙자가 되겠다는 선언입니다.
- 확실한 목적지와 도달 경로, 예비 루트(Plan B)가 없다면 무리하게 길을 나서지 마세요.
4. 가장 강력한 탈출 무기는 총이 아니라 '신발과 양말'이다
피난길에서 당신을 살리는 것은 고가의 장비가 아니라 당신의 '발'입니다. 도로가 마비되면 결국 수십 킬로미터를 걸어야 합니다.
- 평소 신지 않던 새 등산화나 군화를 신으면 5km도 못 가 발뒤꿈치가 까지고 물집이 터져 그 자리에 주저앉게 됩니다.
- 완전히 발에 길들여진 편안한 트레킹화나 러닝화를 신으세요.
- 그리고 반드시 '여분의 울(양모) 양말 3켤레'와 물집 방지용 바셀린, 테이프를 챙기세요. 발이 망가지는 순간 당신은 이동력을 잃고 그 자리에서 낙오자가 됩니다.
5. 골든타임 2시간을 놓쳤다면, 탈출을 포기하고 실내를 요새화하라
재난 발생 직후 2시간이 지나면 도로는 패닉에 빠진 군중, 버려진 차량, 경찰의 바리케이드로 아수라장이 됩니다. 이때 뒤늦게 짐을 싸서 거리로 뛰쳐나가는 것은 무법지대 한복판에 맨몸으로 뛰어드는 짓입니다.
- 초반 골든타임을 놓쳤다면, 무리한 탈출을 포기하고 즉시 집 안으로 후퇴(Bug In)하세요.
- 문과 창문을 굳게 걸어 잠그고, 물을 최대한 받아두며, 초기 72시간의 대혼란과 군중 패닉이 가라앉을 때까지 조용히 숨죽이고 버텨야 합니다.
- 탈출은 도로의 혼란이 정리되고 군경의 통제가 시작되거나, 혼란이 진정된 이후에 시도해도 늦지 않습니다.
최고의 탈출은 영웅처럼 길을 뚫는 것이 아니라, 군중의 패닉에 휩쓸리지 않는 냉정함입니다. 가족의 안전을 위해 이 글을 북마크해 두세요.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
BOMBSHELL. Ilhan Omar’s ex-bodyguard testified before a grand jury probing her immigration history and a $10,000 alleged bribe—then DOJ dropped the charges and he LEFT the country!
The evidence keeps mounting.
Why is she still allowed to serve in Congress?! Hold her accountable!
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Era uma vez uma nação chamada Pérsia. Eles deram refúgio a 4.000 muçulmanos e, 100 anos depois, todos os Persas haviam sido exterminados.
Hoje, essa nação é o Irã.
Eu só achei que você deveria saber.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Dear friends, it's been months since any priest has visited my old mum for Confession and Holy Communion.
At this point I've called everywhere. No one picks up the phone. No one returns voice mails.
Crazy.
Please pray something shakes loose here. She is simply forlorn wanting Jesus and reconciliation.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
BREAKING: Investigation reveals Chinese military universities have obtained restricted Nvidia AI chips despite U.S. export controls. — Reuters
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
IT HAPPENED.
The Swedish parliament just voted to change the constitution today to allow for REVOKING Swedish citizenship.
If someone has several citizenships, Sweden could revoke citizenship if it was given on false grounds or if someone was convicted of serious crimes.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Soon every city / state that permits datacenter construction will have a fiscal surplus, and those that don't will not
Thanks to @elonmusk & @SpaceX, the City of Memphis finished its Fiscal Year ahead of budget for the first time in a long time.
The City is tracking roughly $5.6 million ahead for the current year.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said this week that SpaceX generated $54 million in taxes for the City and County this year.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Bukele está boludeando a los de Amnistía Internacional porque le están pidiendo que respete los derechos humanos de los delincuentes en Haiti. Genio de re mierda. Abz!
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Pologne : énorme défaite pour l’Eurogaga Donald Tusk dans son coup d’État ! ⤵️
La Cour suprême polonaise vient en effet d’annuler les ordonnances du 30 octobre 2026 émises par la présidente nommée par Tusk, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, qui suspendaient les fonctions de Bogdan Święczkowski (le vrai président souverainiste de la Cour constitutionnelle) et Bartłomiej Sochański (son vice-président) !
(cf : sn.pl/pl/aktualnosci/wydarze…)
➡️ L’UE soutient Tusk mais la Cour suprême de Pologne se tient au côté du président Nawrocki et du peuple polonais en lutte !
L’UE perdra !
POLEXIT
FREXIT
Vite
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
Hakeem Jeffries lost the Hegseth impeachment vote by seven after 11 of his Democrats didn't even show up. An inauspicious start for Jeffries, who will have to learn to take attendance.
Black communities: "please help us we are so poor and have no resources"
Developer: "ok here's a $10b datacenter and $54 million dollars a year and $20 million on top for you guys and also a bunch of local jobs all we want is that vacant lot"
Black communities: "no"
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
JUST IN: Developer abandons $10B Michigan data center project after residents reject the proposal, despite promises of $54 million in annual tax revenue & a $20 million community investment fund.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
🚨Now Canada is apparently reiterating their warnings for all of their citizens to be prepared to go 72 hours WITHOUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES!!!!
I’m terrified. What do they know that they’re not telling us? There has been way too much of this lately.
The Donald, Spokane retweeted
In 1944, thousands of Japanese on Saipan hid in caves, sure the Americans would torture them if they came out. Many families chose the cliffs instead.
An 18-year-old American Marine from East Los Angeles walked up to those caves at night, alone, and called to them in Japanese.
His name was Guy Gabaldon. He was a Mexican American kid who had grown up partly in the home of a Japanese American family, the Nakanos. That is where he picked up his Japanese. When the war came, the Nakanos were sent to internment camps. Their twin sons, Lane and Lyle, joined the U.S. Army anyway and served in the 442nd.
Fifty years later, he still said it plainly: "These were Americans."
On Saipan, Gabaldon was a scout with the 2nd Marine Regiment. Right after landing, he slipped off on his own and came back with prisoners. His commanding officer, Capt. John Schwabe, threatened him with a court-martial for leaving his post.
The next night, he came back with about fifty.
After that, they let him go out alone.
He crawled to the cave mouths in the dark and promised the people inside water, medical care, and that nobody would hurt them. Night after night, ten or twenty at a time, they followed him out.
On July 8, by his own account, about 800 came out in a single day. Schwabe remembered that day too. It was the day they tagged him the Pied Piper of Saipan.
Not everyone listened. At the cliffs, he begged a mother not to kill her child. He watched her throw the baby and jump. He was still talking about it fifty years later.
His Navy Cross citation says that on Saipan and Tinian he brought in "well over one thousand enemy civilians and troops."
Schwabe recommended him for the Medal of Honor. He received the Silver Star. Sixteen years later, after Hollywood made a movie about him, the Navy upgraded it to the Navy Cross.
He died in 2006 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
I am Japanese. Those caves were full of my people, frightened, starving, and certain that the Americans were monsters.
An American teenager walked toward them in the dark and offered them water.
On this Veterans Day, Japan should know his name.
































